Method for a link to a wide area network device in a home communication network

ABSTRACT

In the present invention a method is disclosed for using a link to wide area network to connect communications from outside a home voice and data network to within the network. Voice and data modules connect telephones and computers to the existing telephone wiring in a home or building. A link to wide area network allows phone calls to be placed between the network and the Public Service telephone network. All devices connected to the telephone wiring have their own ID and communicate by Tokens in Ethernet technology. This allows Ethernet packets to perform a plurality of communications between a plurality of devices connected to the network under the control of tokens. The communications is accomplished by passing packets containing voice and data signals between phones and computers internal to the network and to an external port to connect to outside of the network. The link to wide area network also allows connection to an ISP by converting from Ethernet packets to Internet packets and from Internet packets to Ethernet packets. The connection to the ISP also allows Internet Telephony without a special telephone or the use of a computer.

This application claims benefit of Provisional No. 60/173,052 filed Dec.24, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to communication networks and more specificallyvoice and data networks within a house, an office or a building usingexisting telephone lines with a communication port to outside the voiceand data network.

2. Description of Related Art

Within an existing home network, devices are limited to one type ofnetwork and use either voice devices such as phones or computers. Theredoes not exist a device for home use that allows communications betweenmultiple phones or computers using existing telephone lines. A PBX(private branch exchange) box is the only similar device, but requireseach phone to be wired individually to the PBX box. The PBX box is veryexpensive, and it would be very expensive to adapt an existing house orbuilding to a PBX system if all the telephone lines had to bereinstalled so that each phone line was routed separately between atelephone and the PBX box.

In “Standardization Activities and Technology Competitors for the HomeNetworking,” Hwang et al., Proceedings of 1998 International Conferenceon Communication Technology, 1998, pp 787-832, in-home networking isdiscussed for the connection of various devices and the distribution ofdata to these devices. Multiple data types with security must be easilyconfigured, have low cost and negligible maintenance. In “Emerging HomeDigital Networking Needs,” Chen, W. Y., Proceedings—1997 FourthInternational Workshop on Community Networking, IEEE, pp 7-12, 1997, thepossibility of using the IEEE 1394 protocol for a digital home networkis explored. There are four driving forces for a home network that arediscussed, home automation, home computer, digital audio and videodistribution, and digital access network.

In U.S. Pat. No 6,005,861 (Humpleman) a home network architecture isdescribed that has an internal digital network interconnecting devicesin the home. Network interfaces connect entertainment services into thenetwork by coupling to an external network. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,612(Dunn et al.) a computer adapter and call routing system allows broadband networks, such as cable television, to provide digital data andtelephone service. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,634 (Hui et al.) a peer topeer protocol is used to provide a plug and play capability in adistributed telephone system. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,929,748 (Odinak) a homecontrol system is described using the electrical wiring of a home forcommunications. The system includes the uses high bandwidth and highfrequency channels along with low frequency channels for controlinformation. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,548 (Sistanizadeh et al.) a systemand method is described for providing an Internet access by means of aPublic Switched Telecommunication Network (PSTN) using a full timeasymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) between a subscriber processorterminal and a local area network (LAN) node and router located remotefrom the subscriber.

There are a large number of homes and buildings that have been wired fortelephone service, and the wiring usually can only accommodate one ortwo phone lines. Attached to these phone lines can be several phones,but only one phone per line can be in use on separate conversations atone time. Also unless a calling phone is on one line and the receivingphone is on another line, communication between the two phones cannot beaccomplished. A computer can use a telephone line by means of a modem toconnect to an Internet service provider (ISP), but if there are morecomputers than phone lines, all of the computers cannot connect to theInternet a one time. If each telephone line is being used by a computer,then the telephones cannot be used, and computers cannot communicatewith one another unless they are using separate lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a means by which the existing wiring in ahome or building can be used as a voice and data network enabling bothtelephones and computers to communicate within the home, or building, aswell as communicate with the Internet and a Public SwitchedTelecommunication Network (PSTN). A home voice and data network (HVDN)of the present invention adapts to the existing telephone lines withoutany rewiring and allows connection between phones within the home orbuilding as well as between computers that may be operating within thenetwork. Communications to phones and computers outside of the networkis accommodated by a device that provides a link to either an Internetservice provider (ISP) or a Public Switched Telecommunication Network(PSTN).

Nodes within the network, which might otherwise have a telephone jackfor connecting to phone or modem, are connected to a network devicecalled a voice and data module (VDM). A phone and a computer can beconnected simultaneously to each VDM at each node of the network. At anode exiting the HVDN is a link to wide area network (LTW) device thatis connected to an ISP and a PSTN. Communications between nodes of thenetwork uses the Token in Ethernet Protocol (TEP) technology to enable amix of voice and data signals to communicate simultaneously within thenetwork. Each VDM device converts voice and data to Ethernet packets tobe sent over the HVDN network and converts received packets to voice anddata signals to be sent to the attached phone and computer. Similarlythe LTW device converts received Ethernet packets to signals tocommunicate with an ISP or the PSTN, and converts incoming signals fromthe ISP and PSTN to Ethernet packets.

Each network device, VDM and LTW, connected to the home voice and datanetwork has an address and within this address is an address capacity toseparate the phone and the computer that can be attached to the VDM. Toplace a call from one phone to another phone within the network apredefined number is dialed which commands the VDM to which the callingphone is attached to send a ringing signal to the VDM to which isattached the receiving phone is attached and request a connection. EachVDM device is assigned an ID number that allows the VDM devices tocommunicate with each other.

The ringing signal sent between VDM devices is first converted to anEthernet packet. When the ringing packet is received by the VDM that hasan ID that matches the destination address (DA) of the packet, the VDMextracts the content of the packet, recognizes it is a ringing signaland attempts to ring the phone which is connected to the receiving VDM.If the receiving phone is already in use a busy signal is sent back tothe sending VDM by means of an Ethernet packet. If the receiving phoneis not busy, a ringing signal is sent to the receiving phone until thereceiving phone is picked up or the sending phone is hung up. Throughout this ringing procedure the two VDM devices communicate the status,such as ringing phone, receiving phone picked up and connected, andsending phone hung up. When the receiving phone is picked up, a packetis sent back to the sending VDM that a connection is made. Communicationbetween the sending and receiving phone is by converting a voice signalat one end of the connection to an Ethernet packet, receiving the packetat the other end and converting it back to a voice signal to beconnected to the phone receiving the signal. The VDM devices involved inthe phone communications monitor the progress of the communication,communicating with each other by means of Ethernet packets. If one phoneis hung up, the VDM to which that phone is attached sends a hang uppacket to the second VDM device involved in the connection. The secondVDM terminates the connection.

A multiple number of phones (conference call) can be connected in afashion similar to the connection between two phones in the network,where the ID of each VDM involved in the conference call is known to theother VDM devices. A voice signal is converted to a Ethernet packet by asending VDM which is sent to the receiving VDM devices involved in theconference call. Each of the receiving VDM devices will then convert thepacket back to a voice signal to be sent to the attached phone. Thetotal connection will not occur until the last VDM and its phone isconnected, nor will the connection be terminated until the next to thelast VDM and its phone is disconnected.

Computers connected to the VDM devices can communicate by either a modemwhere the VDM device converts the voice like signals from the modem toEthernet packets, or by traditional Ethernet protocols where thecomputer sends Ethernet packets to the VDM device to which the computeris attached. Similar to a phone connection, the VDM devices involved ina computer to computer connection establish and monitor the connectionusing the network ID's to identify sending and destination addresses.The computer connection is terminated when one of the two computersinvolved in a computer to computer connection disconnects from the HVDNnetwork.

Communications external to the HVDN network is done through a LTW devicewhich has a network ID number like the VDM devices that are connected tothe network. The LTW converts Ethernet packets from the VDM devices toInternet packets that can be transmitted through the Internet. When atelephone connected to a VDM needs to place a call through the Internet,calling telephone dials a destination number, the VDM converts thetelephone signal to a packet and sends the packet the LTW device ID asthe destination address. The LTW converts the received Ethernet packetsto Internet packets to be sent to the ISP. The present invention enablesInternet Telephony without a special telephone, like an IP phone, orthrough the computer device. Connections to a phone external to the HVDNnetwork can also be established by the LTW device through the PublicSwitched Telecommunication Network (PSTN) to handle incoming calls aswell as placing local calls outside of the HVDN network. Since LTWdevices have ID numbers as do the VDM devices, packets can be sentbetween LTW devices and VDM devices that dial the number of a particularphone, ring the called phone, make the connection and hang up theconnection when the phone communications is terminated. The use ofInternet Telephony compared to PSTN can be dependent upon the use of anarea code in the phone call being placed from within the HVDN network.Calls received through the Internet Telephone will be dependent upon theInternet Telephony being available at the phone external to the HVDNnetwork.

The function of the HVDN network is different than a PBX box. The PBXbox can only direct calls to different phone lines and requires eachphone connected to the PBX box to have a dedicate line to that phone.The HDVN network, in comparison, can direct an incoming call from thePSTN to any or all phones and can allow any phone within the HDVNnetwork to communicate with any or all phones within the network whileusing the exiting telephone wiring within a home or building.

A plurality of VDM devices can be used as a standalone voice and datanetwork without the use of a LTW or a PBX. The plurality of VDM devicescould be located at different locations in a room and at locations indifferent rooms. The plurality of VDM devices would provide room to roomand station to station voice communications, or data communications, ora mixed voice and data communications. Each VDM would have a uniquedevice ID that can be programmed by the user to allow the room to roomand station to station voice or data communications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a PBX system of prior art,

FIG. 2a is a block diagram of the voice and data system of the presentinvention,

FIG. 2b is a flow diagram showing the overall method of communicationsin the voice and data system,

FIG. 3a is a functional flow diagram for a voice and data module whenplacing a call outside of the wired network in a building,

FIG. 3b is a functional flow diagram for a voice and data module whenplacing a call to a phone inside the wired network in a building,

FIG. 4 is a functional flow diagram for a voice and data module whenreceiving a call,

FIG. 5 is a functional flow diagram for a link to wide area networkdevice when receiving an outside call, and

FIGS. 6a and 6 b are a functional diagram for a link to wide areanetwork device when placing an outside call.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 is shown a PBX system of prior art. A number of phones 10 areconnected to a PBX box 12, each through a private wired connection 11.The PBX box 12 routes incoming and outgoing calls between telephones 11,and between telephones 11 and a Public Switched TelecommunicationNetwork (PSTN) 13. Each phone 10 is wired directly to the PBX box 12which requires a wiring network that is different than the wiringconfiguration of most homes and buildings that have a multiple number ofphone outlets. While being expensive to purchase, the PBX box requiresan expensive rewiring of existing homes or buildings.

In FIG. 2a is shown a block diagram of the home voice and data network(HVDN) 20 of the present invention. A plurality of voice and datamodules (VDM) 21 are connected to the telephone wiring 22 in a house orbuilding. The wiring 22 can also include telephone wiring in a pluralityof buildings as long as there is a wired connection between thebuildings that does not require a connection to a PSTN. Each VDMlocation is assigned an address 23, e.g. 1A, 1B , , , 1M. The individualVDM 21 within a location is addressed as 1A0, 1B0 , , , 1M0. Connectedto each VDM 21 can be a phone 24 and a computer (PC) 25. Each phone 24and each computer 25 have separate addresses, e.g. 1A1 for the phone 24and 1A2 for the computer 25 connected to VDM-0 21 with address 1A0. Thecomputers are designated as PC-0, PC-1 , , , PC-m and imply personalcomputers, but any computer capable of communicating by means of Tokenin Ethernet Protocol (TEP) technology or by modem can be connected bymeans of the HVDN network.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2a, a link to wide area network (LTW) device26 with a network address 1X is connected to the wiring network 22 ofthe building and provides a communication port to the outside of theHVDN. Connected to the LTW 26 is a PSTN 27 and an Internet serviceprovider (ISP) 28. The LTW device 26 can be connected to a number ofindividual phone lines 29 depending on the capacity required by the homeor building being services by the HVDN. The LTW device 26 receives phonecalls from and places calls to external phones by way of the PSTN 27 andInternet telephony through the ISP 28, and connects the calls to theappropriate phone address as directed by an extension number. Althoughthe computers 25 can be connected to the Internet through modemconnections through the LTW device 26 and the PSTN 27, a more efficientconnection is made through the LTW device 26 directly to an ISP 28. TheLTW device 26 converts between Ethernet packets and Internet packets toprovide communications between the computers 25 connected to the HDVN 20and the ISP 28.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2a, when a phone 24 needs to place a callthrough the Internet, the telephone 24 dials a destination number, theVDM 21 will convert the signal from the telephone 24 to an Ethernetpacket and sent the packet to the LTW device 26. The LTW device 26converts the Ethernet packet to an Internet packet if Internet Telephonyis to be used, or if the local PSTN 27 is to be used the LTW device 26converts the Ethernet packet containing the dialed number signal fromthe telephone 24 to a dialing signal and connects it to the PSTN 27. TheLTW device 26 converts responses from the ISP 28 and the PSTN 27 toEthernet packets and sends them to the network address of the phone 24that placed the call. Besides converting packets and signal and passingthem between the connected phones, the LTW device 26 also detects busysignals and hang up signals from the remote phones, converts thesesignals to Ethernet packets and passes packets to the VDM 21 to whichthe internal network phone 24 is connected.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2a, multiple phones 24 can be connected in aconference call configuration where the addresses of each of the phonesinvolved 24 and their respective VDM devices 21 are designated as partof the phone call and known to the LTW device 26 as well as all the VDMdevices 21 involved. Many newer homes and building are wired with twoseparate phone lines even though only is used to connect to the localphone company. This provides the possibility of separating thecommunications into two distinct and separate HVDN networks 20 each witha separate LTW device 26. A connection of a VDM 21 to the telephonewiring 22 in a house or building will most likely be made at wallconnector originally used to provide a connection for a phone device;however, multiple VDM devices 21 can be connected to the telephonewiring of the house or building at these wall connectors and each canhave a different length in the network.

In FIG. 2b is shown a functional flow diagram for a VDM device 21monitoring the network for calls and participating in making connectingcalls between phones and between computers. The term call for the flowdiagram of FIG. 2b is meant to refer to a request for a connectioneither between phone or between computers even though the details arenot necessarily the same. The VDM monitors the network for an incomingcall to either the phone or the computer attached to the VDM. From theperspective of the VDM it matters little where the incoming calloriginates except for the network address of sender of the call. Anoutgoing call will be differentiated between one contained within thenetwork by addresses of other VDM devices which are usually extensionnumbers for telephones and one to outside of the network by the addressof the LTW device which is signified by a prefix telephone number likethe number “9”. Communications between network devices, VDM and LTW, isby means of Tokens in Ethernet Protocol (TEP). Using Ethernet tokensallows each phone 24 and computer 25 connected to a VDM device 21 to beactively communicating over the network 22 during the same period oftime.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2b, a VDM 21 monitors the network for anincoming call 220, and monitors the attached phone 24 and the attachedcomputer 25 for initiating an outgoing call 221. If an outgoing call isdetected 222 from either the attached phone 24 or the attached computer25 and a busy signal 223 is detected from the destination address thenthe call is disconnected 224 and the VDM returns to monitoring theattached phone and computer. If the call is an outgoing call 222 fromthe phone 24 or computer 25 connected to the VDM 21 and if there is nobusy signal from the destination address 225, then the call is connected224. If the destination address is another VDM connected to the network,then the call is within the home or building containing the wirednetwork. If the destination is the LTW device 26, the call is outside ofthe network to an ISP 28 or a PSTN 27. If the call is not complete 227,the VDM continues to monitor the call for a hang up signal from theattached phone or computer, or from the destination device. If the callis complete 228 signaled by the hang up or disconnect of either or bothelements doing the communications, the call is disconnected and the VDMreturns to monitoring the attached phone and computer for an outgoingcall.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2b, if there is not an outgoing call 229 andthere is not an incoming call 230, then the ADM continues to monitor thenetwork for a call 220. If there is an incoming call 231 and if thephone or the computer is busy to the call 232, then the call isdisconnected 233. To disconnect the call a packet containing a busysignal is sent to the sending network device, a VDM or a LTW, and thesending network device terminates the call. If there is an incoming call231 and the phone or computer to which the call is directed is not busy234, then the incoming call is connected 235. The call continues 236until the communications are complete 237. Upon completion of the call237, the call is disconnected 233, and the VDM returns to monitoring thenetwork for an incoming call 220. In disconnecting a call, the twonetwork devices involved in the call, either two VDM devices or a VDMdevice and a LTW device, must communicate with each other using Ethernetpackets signaling that the call has been terminated by either or bothdevices which make up the connection. Phone calls and computer calls aredisconnected when a phone hang up is detected or a computer disconnectsignal is detected, and the VDM returns to monitoring network forincoming calls.

In FIG. 3a is shown is a functional flow diagram for a VDM device 21placing a call to a phone outside the HVDN network 20. Each VDM device21 monitors the phone which is connected to it for a dial signal. Ifdial signal is not detected 42, the VDM device 21 continues monitoringthe phone for a dial signal. If a dial signal is detected 40 and if thesignal is for a phone outside of the HVDN network 43, then the LTWaddress as the destination address DA and store the dialed number 44.The VDM sends a request for a connection packet to the queue 45 with DAas destination address and port ID as the source address. If theconnection packet is not received 46, send a request for a connectionpacket to queue 45. If the connection packet is received 47 and if theline is not available 48, hang up the phone and monitor phone for dialsignal. If the connection packet is received 47 and the line isavailable 50, send the connection packet to the queue with DA as thedestination address and port ID as source address 51. The VDM detects apacket from the LTW 52 and if the line is busy 53, hangs up the phone49. If the line is not busy and the connection is not made 55, senddialing signal to remote phone 56. If hang up signal is received fromphone connected to the VDM 57, send a hang up signal to queue with DA asdestination address 65 an hang up phone 49. If no hang up signal isreceived 58, return to monitoring line for a connection to be madethrough the LTW. Detect Ethernet packet from the LTW 52. If the line isnot busy and the connection to the remote phone is made 59, convert avoice signal from the local phone making the call to Ethernet packetswith DA as destination address 60. If a hang up packet from the LTW isdetected 61, then hang up phone 49. If hang up packet from LTW is notdetected 62 but a phone hang up is detected by the VDM 64, then send ahang up packet to queue with DA as the destination address 65 and hangup the phone 49. If hang up packet from LTW is not detected 62 and ifthe phone is not hung up 63, then continue to convert voice signals toEthernet packets with DA as destination address 60.

Referring to FIG. 3b, if a phone call is not placed to a phone outsideof the HVDN network 41, then determine the port address within the HVDNnetwork and store as destination address DA 70. Send a request for aconnection packet to queue with DA as destination address and port ID assource address 71. Detect a voice packet from a destination VDM 72, andif the line is busy 78, send a busy signal to phone 79. If the phone isnot hung up 80, continue to send a busy signal to the phone 79. If thephone is hung up, return to monitoring the phone connected to the VDMfor a dial signal. If the line is not busy 73 and if the connection isnot made 74, send a ring back signal to phone 75. If the phone is nothung up 76, then return to detecting a packet from the destination VDM77 to check for a connection to be made. If the phone is hung up 91,send a hang up packet to queue with DA as destination address 90. If aconnection is made 82, convert the resulting voice signal to an Ethernetpacket and send packet to queue with DA as destination address 83.Convert received voice packet to a voice signal and send to the attachedphone 84. If a hang up packet is received 85, hang up phone 86 andreturn to detecting a dial tone from the attached phone. If a hang uppacket is not received 87 and if the phone is hung up 89, then send hangup packet to queue with DA as destination address 90 and return todetecting a dial tone from the attached phone. If a hang up packet isnot received 87 and if the phone is not hung up 88, then continue toconvert voice signal to Ethernet packet 83 and convert received voicepackets to voice signals 84.

Referring to FIG. 4, a VDM monitors the HVDN network for voice packets100 to detect a receiving call. If a connection is not requested 101,then monitoring network to detect voice packets continues 100. If aconnection is requested 102, then the source address is stored in apacket as destination address DA 103. If phone line is not available104, send packet with busy signal to queue with DA as destinationaddress and port ID as source address 105 and return VDM to detectingvoice packets 100. If phone line is available 106, send packet withdialing signal to queue with DA as destination address and port ID assource address 107. Send ring signal to phone connected to VDM 108. Ifthe phone is not picked up 109 and a hang up packet has not beenreceived 111, then send a packet with dialing signal to queue with DA asdestination address and port ID as source address 107. If the phone isnot picked up 109 and a hang up packet has been received 110, thenreturn VDM to detecting voice packets 100. If phone has been picked up112, send packet with connected signal to queue with DA as destinationaddress and port ID as source address 113. Convert voice signal toEthernet packet with DA as destination address and device ID as sourceaddress 114. Convert received voice packet to voice signal and send tophone 115. If a hang up packet is received 116, hang up phone 117 andreturn to detecting voice packets 100. If hang up packet is not received118, and hang up signal from phone is not received 119, then continueconverting voice signals to Ethernet packets with DA as destinationaddress and device ID as source address 114. If hang up packet is notreceived 118, and hang up signal from phone is received 120, send packetwith hang up signal to queue with DA as destination address and port IDas source address 121, and return to detecting voice packets 100.

Referring to FIG. 5, an LTW device receives calls from outside the HVDNnetwork. If there is no incoming call 130, continue to monitor for anincoming call. If an incoming call is detected 131, ask for an extensionnumber 132. If an extension number is not received 135, then storepredefined port address for no extension number as destination addressDA 136. If an extension number is received 133, store port addressassigned to the extension address as the destination address DA 134.Send a request for connection packet to queue with DA as destinationaddress 137. If line is busy 138, direct outside line to mail box ifavailable or send a busy signal to outside line then hang up connectionto outside line 139. If line is not busy 140 and if a connection is notmade 150, then the LTW continues to monitor for a connection packet 161.If there is no hang up signal from outside line 151, then the LTWcontinues to monitor connection status. If there is a hang up signalfrom the outside line 152, then a packet is sent with the hang up signalto queue with DA as destination address. If line is not busy 140 and ifconnection is made 154, then the LTW converts incoming voice signal toan Ethernet packet with DA as destination address and device ID assource address, and converts received voice packets with DA as sourceaddress to voice signals to be sent to outside line 155. If a hang uppacket is received from the destination port 156, hang up the out sideline 157 and return to monitoring for an incoming call. If no hang uppacket is received from the destination port 158 and there is no hang upsignal from the outside line 159, continue converting incoming voicesignals to Ethernet packets and converting voice packets to voicesignals 155. If no hang up packet is received from the destination port158 and there is a hang up signal from the outside line 160, send packetwith hang up signal to queue with DA as destination address 153 andreturn to monitoring for an incoming call.

Referring to FIG. 6a, an LTW device places a call to a phone outside ofthe HVDN network. The LTW detects the network for voice packets 170. Ifno outside connection is requested 171, the LTW continues to monitor thenetwork for voice packets 170. If an outside connection is requested172, the source address is stored in a packet as DA 173. If the phoneline is not available 174, a packet is sent to queue with no lineavailable with DA as destination address and port ID as source address175. If the phone line is available 176, a packet is sent with linestatus to queue with DA as destination address and port ID as sourceaddress 177. The dialing number is stored in packet content 180 and thestored number is dialed to the outside line 181. If the outside phone isnot connected 182 and the line is not busy 183, then a packet is sentwith dialing signal to queue with DA as destination address and port IDas source address 184. If hang up packet is not received 185, continuemonitoring for connection to outside phone. If hang up packet isreceived from requesting phone within the HVDN 186, hang up outside line187 and return to monitoring the network for voice packets 170. If theoutside phone is not connected 182 and the line is busy 188, then apacket is sent with busy signal to queue with DA as destination addressand port ID as source address 189, and outside line is hung up 187. If aconnection is made with the outside phone 190, a packet with aconnection signal is sent to the queue with DA as destination addressand port ID as source address 200 as shown in FIG. 6b.

Referring to FIG. 6b, voice packets are converted to voice signals andsent to the outside line 201, and voice signals from outside the lineare converted to packets with DA as destination address and device ID assource address 202. If a hang up packet with source as DA is received203, the outside line is hung up 204. If there is not a hang up signalfrom the outside line 205, continue to hang up the outside line 204. Ifa hang up signal is received from the outside line 206, return the LTWto detecting voice packets 170. If a hang up packet with source as DA isnot received 207 and if there is no hang up signal from the outside line208, then continue converting received voice packets to voice signals201 and converting voice signals from outside line to packets 202. If ahang up packet with source as DA is not received 207 and if there is ahang up signal from the outside line 209, send packet with hang upsignal to queue with DA as destination address and port ID as sourceaddress 210. Hang up out side line 211 and return the LTW to detectingvoice packets 170.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for an LTW (link to wide area network)device receiving a call from outside a voice and data network,comprising. a) detecting an incoming call and asking for an extensionnumber within the voice and data network, b) storing a port addressassigned to said extension number and destination address (DA) if saidextension number is provided, c) storing predefined port address as theDA if no extension number is provided, d) sending a request forconnection packet to queue with the DA as the destination address, e)directing an outside line of the received call to a voice mail box orsend a busy signal to the outside line and hang up the outside line if aline internal to voice and data network is busy, the line internal tothe voice and data network being the intended destination of the callfrom outside, f) sending a packet with a hang up signal to queue withthe DA as destination address if a connection is not made and if a hangup signal from the call from outside said voice and data network isreceived, g) monitoring for a connection packet if the line is not busyand a connection is not made, h) continuing to monitor for a connectionpacket if a hang up signal from the outside line is not received,otherwise sending packet with a hang up signal to queue with the DA asdestination address and return to detecting for incoming call if saidhang up signal from the outside line is detected, i) converting anincoming voice signal to an Ethernet packet with the DA as thedestination address and a device ID as the source address and convertinga received voice packet with the DA as the source address to voicesignals and sending the received voice packet to the outside line if theline is not busy and if a connection is made, j) hanging up the outsideline and returning to detecting for an incoming call if a hang up packetfrom destination port is received, k) sending a packet with hang upsignal to queue with the DA as destination address and returning todetecting an incoming call if no hang up packet from destination port isdetected and if a hang up signal from the outside line is detected, l)continuing to convert incoming voice signals to Ethernet packets withthe DA as the destination address and the device ID as the sourceaddress and continuing to convert received voice packet with the DA asthe source address to voice signal and sending to the outside line if ahang up packet from destination port is not received and a hang upsignal from outside line is not received.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein, connecting communications from outside said voice and datanetwork to phones and computers within said voice and data network isdone through a link to wide area network device to receive saidcommunications, and using said voice and data network with Ethernettechnology to route said communications.
 3. The method of claim 1wherein, communicating to phones within said voice and data network usesexisting phone lines within a building.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein, converting said voice signal to said Ethernet packet isconverting actual voice signals form a phone or digital signals from acomputer with the use of a modem to provide the digital data to thevoice and data network.
 5. A method for an LTW (link to wide arenetwork) device placing a call outside of a voice and data network,comprising: a) detecting voice packets on the voice and data network, b)storing a source address in said packets as destination address (DA) ifa connection outside said voice and data network is requested, c)sending a packet with no line available to queue with DA as destinationaddress and port ID as source address if phone line is not available, d)sending a packet with line status to queue with DA as destinationaddress and port ID as source address if phone line is available, e)storing dialing number in packet content, f) dialing the stored dialingnumber to access an outside line and sending packet with dialing signalto queue with the DA as destination address and a port ID as sourceaddress if connection not made and if the outside line is not busy, g)hanging up the outside line if a hang up packet received and returningto detecting voice packets, h) sending packets with busy signal to queuewith the DA as a destination address and the port ID as source address,hanging up outside line and returning to detecting voice packets ifconnection not made and if line is busy, i) sending a packet with aconnected signal to queue with the DA as destination address and theport ID as the source address if outside phone or computer is connectedto an inside phone or computer, j) converting received voice packets tovoice signals and sending such voice signals to the outside line, k)converting voice signals from the outside line to voice packets with theDA as a destination address and the device ID as the source address andsending such voice packets to queue, l) continuing to convert receivedvoice packets to voice signals and voice signals to voice packets ifhang up packet with source as DA is not received and if hang up signalfrom outside is not received, m) hanging up outside line if hang uppacket with source as DA is received, n) sending packet with hang upsignal to queue with DA as destination address and port ID as sourceaddress, and hanging up outside line if hang up packet with source as DAis not received and if hang up signal from outside is received, o)hanging up outside line if there is said hang up signal from outside andreturning to detecting voice packets.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein,connecting communications from outside of said voice and data network tophones and computers within said voice and data network is done througha link to wide area network device to receive said communications, andusing said voice and data network with Ethernet technology to route saidcommunications.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein, communicating tophones within said voice and data network uses existing phone lineswithin a building.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein, converting saidvoice signal to said voice packet is converting actual voice signalsfrom a phone or digital signals from a computer with the use of a modemto provide the digital data to the voice and data network.